Reaching new heights: How have Europeans grown so tall?

Paris (AFP) - Genetic differences, painstakingly crafted by thousands of years of natural selection, explain why Europeans from the north tower over their southern cousins, researchers said Monday.

Urban economics studies the geographic distribution of economic activity. In most urban economic models, the reason that cities aren’t taller is that, per square meter of useable space, taller buildings cost more to physically make. (Supporting quotes below.) According to this usual theory, buildings only get taller when something else compensates for these costs, like a scarce ocean view, or higher land prices.

If there was ever a tall tale, it's this: People of different heights have equal opportunities to achieve success in life. Instead, scientific research seems to suggest that tall men and women have a significant advantage over their shorter counterparts.

Press release from London’s Metropolitan Police: New images of the Hatton Garden burglary scene are being released today, Wednesday 22 April, by Flying Squad detectives who continue to investigate the crime. Police were called at 08.10hrs on Tuesday, 7 April, to a report of a burglary at Hatton Garden Safety Deposit Ltd (HGSD), 88-90 Hatton Garden, EC1.

The Guardian reports: Researchers led by Gert Stulp, a specialist in population health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, combed a Dutch database for clues.

Paris (AFP) - The Netherlands is the land of giants: on average, its women stand almost 1.71 metres (5 feet 7 inches) tall, and its men 1.84 metres.But how the Dutch became the world's tallest people has been somewhat of a mystery.

In what could become an ideological paradox for Donald Trump, according to the ECRI, the president would have no choice but to allow a substantial number of immigrants into the US if he wishes to reach his goal of adding 25 million jobs over the next 8 years as his administration has promised.

In the flood of reporting on the presidential candidacy of Hillary Rodham Clinton, amid the emails, polling data, classified documents and position papers, no one seems to have noticed a medical miracle at the center of the campaign. The candidate appears to be getting taller. I’m excited. Americans of short stature, like me, can finally dream of someday reaching those upper shelves, looking good in the latest fashions and regaining the respect of our children long used to looking down on us.